Nottingham & District Gun Club is a premier clay pigeon shooting venue located at Far Baulker Farm in Oxton, Nottinghamshire. The club is owned and operated by Carl Smith, a prominent figure in the British shooting industry with over 30 years of experience who also serves as a National Director for the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA). This leadership ensures that the venue operates at the highest standards of safety, target setting, and overall organization.
The facility caters to a massive variety of clay shooting disciplines, spanning Sporting layouts (English Sporting, FITASC, Sportrap), Trap layouts (Down The Line, Automatic Ball Trap, Double Rise), and Skeet layouts (English Skeet, Skeet Doubles, and NSSA). To aid solo practitioners, the club features innovative technological systems such as a 5-second delay timer for Sporting clays and acoustic (voice-activated) releases for Skeet. Undercover stands are also available to protect shooters from the elements, making it an all-weather facility.
Instruction and training are cornerstones of the club’s activities. Beginners can take part in specialized "Have a Go" sessions that provide all necessary equipment and 25 targets to get a taste of the sport. More intensive subsequent lessons cover safety, etiquette, proper gun handling, eye dominance, and stance. Furthermore, the grounds act as a regular site for official CPSA development workshops, instructing new safety officers and coaches.
Competitively, the grounds are incredibly active, regularly hosting official CPSA registered shoots on Sundays. It acts as the battlefield for major regional events like the Nottinghamshire County DTL Championship and East Midlands ABT competitions. Shooters should note that the terrain is exposed to windy weather conditions, which tests a competitor's ability to read unpredictable clay trajectories and serves as an excellent training ground.
Beyond the shooting fields, the club maintains a highly welcoming atmosphere, operating under the friendly ethos that all who enter as guests leave as friends. There is a dedicated function and conference room available for hire to corporate groups who wish to combine business meetings with team-building events. Additionally, hot food and refreshments are served all day long during active shooting days to keep visitors energized.
Key Club Features:
Extensive Disciplines: Offers 10 distinct clay shooting formats across Sporting, Trap, and Skeet disciplines.
Solo Practice Tech: Outfitted with voice-activated clay releases and 5-second delay systems for independent practice.
All-Weather Comfort: Includes undercover shooting stands to ensure uninterrupted training regardless of rain.
Professional Coaching: Features structured steps from introductory "Have a Go" sessions to advanced technique refinement.
